Rising Star: Danielle Wishart, ASOS

How did you get into risk/insurance?

I am a rare breed and I actually studied it as a degree at Glasgow Caledonian University. It was back in 2007 around the time of the crash in the financial services and risk management appeared to be moving up the agenda in discussions more. I had an offer for media and communications as well as the risk management degree – thankfully I decided on risk and I have never looked back.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?

The biggest and most exciting challenge of my career is working at ASOS. The scale, pace and entrepreneurship that drives the company is something that makes ASOS really special and being given the opportunity to come in to a new function with a relatively blank canvas is something that excites me.

What achievement are you most proud of?

My current role and past at Camelot. I will always be grateful for the foot in the door opportunity at Camelot, which is the reason why I am here now. Having the opportunity to work across risk, insurance and business continuity during my time there gave me a real appreciation for risk and how each discipline can interact with each other.

What would be your advice to other newcomers in the industry/ what do you wish you knew in your first week?

“Effective risk management is about influencing people, not directing them. Danielle has the personality, clarity of thinking and flexibility of approach to influence anyone, whatever their level.”

Andrew Magowan, general council and company secretary at ASOS

Working in risk is the one role where you have access all areas of the business and all levels of seniority, which I find fascinating. It’s all about building your network not only in the organisation you work in but with your peers in the risk and insurance industry too - you never know one day the people you meet might become your hiring manager, mentor, colleague or friend.

How has your view about the insurance industry changed since you started?

It is continually evolving and is no longer viewed as simply a risk transfer mechanism.

Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

I have no plans to move away from the industry I work in. If I can work as hard as I can and it gives me the opportunity to progress then that’s good enough for me.

If I wasn’t working in insurance I would be…

A pilot.